Orthodontic apparatus



Dec. 1,. 1970 RUBlN 3,543,404

ORTHODONTI C APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1969 INVENTOR. JAMES M. RUBIN 3,543,404 ORTHODONTIC APPARATUS James M. Rubin, 141 W. 17th St., New York, N.Y. 10011 Filed Apr. 9, 1969, Ser. No. 814,559 Int. Cl. A61c 7/00 US. Cl. 32-14 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An orthodontic apparatus for receiving one or more arch wires in the art of orthodontics. The apparatus is in the form of a bracket secured to a tooth band with the bracket having a fixed plate and a hinged clip releasably latched to the fixed plate for releasably securing one or more arch wires.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Orthodontic brackets are old and well known in the art and a multitude of various types of apparatus has heretofor been developed, all for the purpose of improving the art. An arch wire bracket must securely hold the arch wire in the predetermined position selected by the orthodontist. While performing such function, it is desirable that the bracket be of minimal size to minimize discomfort to the patient, and be easily manipulated in the patients mouth for benefit of both the patient and orthodontist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, orthodontic apparatus in the form of an arch wire bracket includes a base plate of simple construction which can receive one or more arch wires and a clip hinged to the base plate at one end thereof and releasably connected to the base plate near the other end thereof so that the clip can be readily repositioned to effect an opening and closing of the bracket while the base plate is attached to the tooth band within the patients mouth.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide improved orthodontic apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved orthodontic bracket capable of being utilized in a wide variety of orthodontic techniques.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention showing a portion of the tooth band on which the orthodontic apparatus is mounted;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of modified form of clip showing a pair of arch wires in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another form of clip; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate form of bracket wherein the arch Wire is held within the bracket at spaced locations, the arch wire being shown in phantom.

nited States Patent DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 a bracket indicated generally at 11 includes a base plate 12 and a clip 13. Base plate 12 is preferably formed of thin sheet metal, usually stainless steel, and the base plate is secured, such as by soldering or welding, to a tooth band 14 of the type that encircles a patients tooth, or to any suitable material that may be cemented or otherwise attached directly to a tooth.

Base plate 12 is generally flat and rectangular. The lower edge thereof is formed into a tube-like member 15 and, using proper metal forming techniques, the tube-like member is formed integrally with the base plate. Tubelike member 15 is generally disposed contiguous with one side edge. At the opposite end of the base plate contiguous with the other side edge, the base plate is provided with a formed tab 16. The center portion of the tap has an arcuate configuration 17 which merges at one end with the main portion of the base plate and which merges at the other end into a cam shaped portion 18 through which the tab 16 can be deflected.

Clip 13 is formed of relatively stiff wire, usually stainless steel. The ends of the clip are coplanar and extend in opposite directions with both ends being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the central portion of the clip. The center portion 19 is of arcuate configuration extending out of the plane of the ends. One end 21 is rotatably received in tube-like member 15 while the other end 22 is received in the center portion 17 of tab 16. Arcuate center portion 19 overlies base plate 12 and the internal size of the arc is selected so as to receive the largest of a range of arch wires. For example, in the light wire technique, center portion 19 may be designed to receive and partially surround an arch wire having a diameter of .016 or smaller.

In utilizing the brackets shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, end 22 is gripped and cammed out of tab 16 by deflection of the tab and slight deflection of the clip. Thereafter, the clip is rotated about the pivot formed by end 21 within tube-like member 15. With the clip open, an arch wire can be caused to overlie base plate 12 and the clip thereafter closed by camming end 22 under tab 16. The closed position is indicated in FIG. 1.

By the construction just described, it is unnecessary to permanently afifix end 21 in tube-like member 15. Once the clip is moved to the closed position, lateral movement of the clip in either direction is prevented as a result of ends 21 and 22 extending in opposite directions. Not only does such feature impart a simplified construction to the apparatus of this invention, but it also permits ready changing of the clips in the event that it is desired to utilize a clip of a different size or configuration or in the event that the clip becomes damaged or distorted.

An embossment 23 is shown as being formed in base plate 12 in the area beneath center portion 19 of the clip. If it is desired to utilize the one-point technique the provision of an arcuate embossment will cause an arch Wire to contact the base plate at substantially one point only and by proper selection of the size of the arc of center portion 19, the arch wire can be caused to be contacted by the clip at substantially one point only. The provision of embossment 23 is optional and, of course, the distance between the inner surface of center portion 19 and base plate 12 for any particular range of arch wire sizes will be further determined by the presence or absence of an embossment.

The orthodontic apparatus of the instant invention also readily lends itself to use with the twin arch wire technique. A clip 30 includes an end 21 to be received in tube-like member 15 and an end 32 for cooperation with tab 16. The arcuate configuration of the center portion 33 of the tab is specifically designed to accommodate two arch wires. In FIG. 3, a small diameter arch wire is indicated in phantom lines at 34 and a larger diameter arch wire is indicated in phantom lines at 35. Of course, it will be understood that the arch wires could be of equal diameter.

With the apparatus of the instant invention, it is also possible to utilize the clip as a spring to impart a rotating or uprighting force to the arch wire. While the spring portion is indicated in FIG. 3, it can be utilized with any of the clips envisioned by this invention. With reference to FIG. 3, end 32 is extended to include a loop 36 and a free end 37. Loop 36 imparts spring lik action to free end 37 and, after the arch wire is in place and the clip closed, free end 37 is wrapped about the arch wire to impart a rotating force between the arch wire and the bracket to thereby impart a rotating force to the tooth.

If it is desired to utilize an edgewise technique with a rectangular or square arch wire or to utilize braided arch wire of square or rectangular cross-sectional configuration, a clip as shown in FIG. 4 would be utilized. Clip 40 includes an end 41 to be received in tube-like member 15 and an end 42 which is releasably secured by tab 16. The center portion 43 opens downwardly with square or rectangular dimensions depending on the dimensions of the arch wire.

Another form of bracket 51 is shown in FIG. 5. Base plate 52 includes a single substantially centrally located clip receiving member 53 at one end thereof and a pair of spaced tabs 54 at the other end thereof. A single clip '55 has a central portion 56 rotatably received in member 53. Ends 57 are releasably secured by tabs 54 and perate in the same manner as tab 16, except for the different orientation of tabs 54. Intermediate each end 57 and central portion 56 is an arcuate portion 58 adapted to engage over an arch wire. An arch wire 59 is indicated in phantom lines.

A bracket of the type shown in FIG. would be utilized in a technique where it is desired to hold the arch wire to the base plate at two spaced locations. By deflection of each end 57 and each tab 54, clip 55 can be rotated within member 53 to an open position to allow removal or insertion of arch wire 59. When the arch wire is in place, clip 55 is rotated and each end 57 is deflected under its associated tab 54 which deflects to allow entry of the clip end and thereafter holds the clip end in place until physically removed therefrom.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efliciently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Orthodontic apparatus for securing at least one arch wire relative to a tooth band comprising a base plate having a longitudinal area over which an arch wire is adapted to lie, a clip for releasably securing an arch wire to said base plate, clip pivoting means on said base plate for pivoting one portion of said clip to said base plate and clip retaining means on said base plate for releasably securing an other portion of said clip to said base plate, said clip pivoting means being l0- cated on one side of said longitudinal area and said clip retaining means being located on the other side of said longitudinal area (said clip pivoting means being located on one side of a line extending transversely of said longitudinal area, and said clip retaining means being located on the other side of said line, the central portion of said clip between clip-pivoting means and said clip retaining means extending parallel to said line, said central portion being spaced from said base plate for receiving at least one arch wire therebetween, said One portion of said clip extending substantially perpendicular to said central portion on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said longitudinal area and said other portion of said clip extending substantially perpendicular to said central portion on an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said longitudinal area.

2. Orthodontic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base plate includes embossment means in said longitudinal area, the uppermost surface of said embossment means extending towards said central portion of said clip for receiving an arch wire between said central portion and the uppermost surface of said embossment means.

3. Orthodontic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central portion defines an are for at least partially surrounding a circular arch wire.

4. Orthodontic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central portion defines twin arcs for at least partially surrounding two circular arch wires.

5. Orthodontic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central portion is substantially U-shaped for at least partially surrounding a rectangular arch wire.

6. Orthodontic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clip pivoting means includes tubular means formed integrally with said base plate, said tubular means at least partially surrounding said one portion of said clip for rotatably mounting said one portion in said tubular means.

7. Orthodontic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 where in said clip retaining means includes tab means formed integrally with said base plate, said tab means including a cam shaped portion at the extremity thereof for camming over said other portion of said clip and a raised portionbetween said cam shaped portion and said base plate for receiving thereunder said other portion of said clip when said clip is releasably secured by said clip retaining means.

8. Orthodontic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one portion of said clip is intermediate the end thereof, said other portion of said clip is defined by the two ends thereof and two central portions are provided for securing the arch wire at two spaced locations, one of said central portions being located between one end of said clip and said one intermediate portion and the other of said central portions being located between the other end of said clip and said one intermediate portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,076,265 2/1963 Moore 3214 3,084,437 4/1963 Neger 32-44 3,091,857 6/1963 Rubin et al. 32-14 3,218,713 11/1965 WaHshein 32l4 ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner 

